More Safety Tips

Tips to saving your life, if you have gotten into a violent situation:

REACT IMMEDIATELY: If he abducts you in a parking lot, and is taking you to an abandoned area, DON'T LET HIM GET YOU TO THAT AREA. If you are driving, react immediately in the situation, and crash your car while still going 5 MPH. If he's driving, find the right time, and stick your fingers in his eyes. He must watch the road, so choose an unsuspecting time, and gouge him. It is your ONLY defense. While he is in shock, GET OUT. (This sounds gross, but the alternative is your fault if you do not act.

RESIST: don't go along with him: run, if you are able, scream; you DO NOT want to get to crime scene. DON'T EVER GIVE UP!

ALWAYS keep your distance when walking past strangers on the street or in dark areas.

GET A CELL PHONE. there are packages for $19.95 a month that allow you to program only 911 into the dialing out program (this is for parents who say it is too expensive for their kids to have a cell phone.)

BREAK DOWNS: (avoid this by ALWAYS keeping your car in good working order).

If your car breaks down: you better have a cell phone to call for help and lock your doors.

Keep a blanket, and a pair of warm clothes and boots, and a flashlight in your car always for emergencies.

If you don't have a cell phone: (shame on you). And it's noon on a business day, you MAY want to put your hazards on and walk to safety. And it's 2 a.m.: put on your warm clothes, and walk to a lighted area. You are a perfect target if you are sitting in your car broken down. Predators search the highways for easy targets like you. And if you're on a desolate road: walk away from the car (in your warm clothes) and go to some bushes, or some area AWAY from your vehicle. It will be cold, and uncomfortable, but you DO NOT want to stay in your car, and there are no psychic boogiemen waiting in the bushes who knew you were going to break down.

Physical defenses that we can use against the violent predator:

The EYES are the most vulnerable part of the body. Poke him there, and you have (possibly) your only window of opportunity.

The neck is also a vulnerable spot, but you MUST know where to grip, AND HAVE THE STRENGTH to cut off his breath.

The last place is the KNEES. Everyone's knees are very vulnerable, and a swift kick here will take anyone down.

A cautionary note about these things is that if you do not do these things right the first time, you are in trouble, because it will only anger the individual, and that anger will be TAKEN OUT ON YOU. I'm not saying don't attempt them (it may be your only hope), but be forceful when you do.

If you are walking alone in the dark (which you shouldn't be) and you find him following/chasing you, Scream "FIRE!", and not "help". People don't want to get involved when people yell "help", but "fire" draws attention because people are nosy.

RUN! Find an obstacle, such as a parked car, and run around it, like ring around the rosie. This may sound silly, but over the years, 5 women have told Pat Malone that this SAVED THEIR LIVES.

Your last hope is getting under the car. Once you are under there, there are tons of things to hold on to, and he will not be able to get you out, and will not come under for you (most likely). Usually they give up by this point. The catch here is that YOU MUST PRACTICE GETTING UNDER THE CAR. You must have a plan (he will have one); know if you will be going on your back, front, from the side or back of the car. It must be practiced.

NEVER let yourself or anyone that you know be a "closer" in any type of business (bar, store, restaurant, gas station). Pat knew Danielle, who was the girl from Chesterland that just died from being shot point-blank by some kids while she was closing at the local gas station. He talked with her the night before she died, and asked whether it ever scared her to close alone. She said yes, but said "I'll be alright, Pat. I'll be alright." She wasn't.

I didn't mean to scare you with any of this, but honestly, I hope it did. It should. Our world is not as safe as we pretend that it is, and living in our fantasy worlds WILL get us in trouble, sooner or later.

"It won't happen to me" doesn't cut it, and is a bogus expectation anyway.

Pat Malone said again and again that the women who die EVERY MINUTE from violent crimes expected to go to bed tonight, and get up tomorrow, and do it all over again, and again, and again. No one expects it, but we must be prepared and aware so that we HAVE A PLAN.

This information is good for everyone, not just women. Violence can strike anyone, anytime. We all need to be prepared.

Effective preventative measures are your best defense! Stun Guns, Tasers, and Pepper Sprays are extremely efficient methods of getting yourself out of trouble before it escalates into the unthinkable. Don't be caught short!